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Streaming vs CD transport direct comparison


Yesterday we had a day at a friends comparing the title to this thread.
System consisted of:
  • Speakers — Wilson Alexia series 2
  • Amplifier — Gryphon Audio Antileon EVO
  • Preamplifier — Supratek Cortese or Lightspeed Attenuator LDR passive or source direct (we used the Supratek for instant a/b ability)
  • Sources — Digital: 432Evo Music Server Roon Core (owner has found Roon to be the best)
  • Yamaha CD-S2100 as transport,
  • Totaldac d1-core DAC.

We A/B both (levels matched) CD to 432Evo (streamed, saved and/or to H/D) with a number of albums same versions, classical, jazz, soft rock, hard rock.
The overwhelming consensus of all 5 listeners (some that "were" originally very pro streaming) was that the CD was firstly clearly more dynamic, had better separation and was blacker background between notes and it was also clearer through the vocals that were hard to hear what was being said, than what came out of the 432Evo.
This is the third time I’ve sat in on this kind of A/B on different systems all were similar on how the differences came out.
I can say the streamer would be a slightly better late night low volume level system to play, as it’s dynamics wouldn’t wake other people in the same building. Where the CD you’d be running for the volume every time there was a big dynamic passage.

Cheers George
georgehifi

Showing 1 response by melm

melm
1,085 posts
 
FWIW, I found that ripping CDs to a USB hard disk and playing them through a lap-top running JRiver and out by USB to a DAC definitely improved the SQ over playing the same disks on an Oppo 105 and out through coax into the DAC.  And ripping SACDs, of course. 

All of this was improved further by going to a NAS (with ethernet performing better than wi-fi) and eventually avoiding sending music through the laptop by using DLNA function of JRiver and a digital bridge.  First the Oppo as the bridge, which was actually pretty good, and later an SOtM.

As a committed vinylphyle, I am more than impressed by what these 1s and 0s can actually do.  It reminded me of what some old vinyl grooves actually could reveal as playback equipment improved, mostly after the golden age of vinyl.
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